Too much rain. Not enough rain.
It can seem like Norfolk is constantly dealing with one or the other.
A heavy summer storm can leave water pooling in yards, rushing down streets, and flowing toward storm drains. Then, after stretches without enough rainfall, our gardens and landscapes can begin to dry out.
So what if part of the answer isn't trying to get rid of rain as quickly as possible?
What if we could slow it down, let more of it soak into the ground, and put our yards to work?
That's where rain gardens—and the native plants growing in them—can make a difference.
What Happens to Rain When It Falls in Norfolk?
When rain lands on natural, planted areas, some of that water can infiltrate the soil.
But our communities contain a lot of impervious surfaces: roofs, driveways, sidewalks, roads and other hard surfaces that don't allow water to soak in easily.
During a heavy storm, water can move quickly across these surfaces and become stormwater runoff.
That runoff can eventually enter storm drains, streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay.
Stormwater can also pick up soil, nutrients, fertilizers, pollutants and other materials along the way.
In other words, when rain moves too quickly across our landscape, we're not getting the full benefit of the water that just fell from the sky.
A Rain Garden Gives Water Somewhere to Go
A rain garden is a planted area designed to temporarily collect stormwater and allow it to infiltrate into the soil.
Rather than immediately sending water toward the street or storm drain, a properly designed rain garden slows the flow.
The water has time to spread out and soak into the ground.
Think of it as giving rainfall a pause button.
Instead of:
Rain → runoff → storm drain
we can create more opportunities for:
Rain → plants + soil → infiltration
A rain garden won't stop every drop of water from eventually moving through the watershed. And it isn't appropriate for every location.
But when properly designed for the site, it can be one small way to manage stormwater closer to where that rain actually falls.
What Does This Have to Do With Drought?
This is the part that is easy to overlook.
Rain gardens aren't just about what happens during a storm.
They're also about making better use of rainfall before the next dry spell arrives.
When water infiltrates the soil, some is available to plants, while some can move deeper into the ground and contribute to groundwater recharge.
Groundwater is an important part of our water cycle, and groundwater replenishment becomes particularly important during dry periods.
A rain garden can't prevent a drought. It can't manufacture rainfall or solve a regional water shortage.
But it can help us think differently about the rain we do receive.
Instead of viewing rainwater as something that needs to leave our property as quickly as possible, we can ask:
How can we keep some of that water moving slowly through the landscape?
Native Plants Are Part of the Equation
The plants you choose matter.
Native plants are adapted to the conditions of our region, and their root systems can help improve soil structure and create pathways that allow water to move into the soil.
As plants grow, they also take up water through their roots.
But the benefits don't stop with water management.
Native plants can provide food, shelter and habitat for pollinators, birds and other wildlife.
So a rain garden can serve several purposes at once:
🌧️ Slow stormwater runoff
💧 Create opportunities for water to infiltrate the soil
🌱 Support plants adapted to our region
🦋 Provide habitat for pollinators and wildlife
🌊 Help reduce the amount of rapid runoff entering local waterways
That's a lot of work for one little garden.
Too Much Water and Not Enough Water
It might seem strange that the same landscape practice could be relevant to both flooding and drought.
But that's exactly why water management at the neighborhood and household level matters.
During a heavy storm, we want to slow water down and reduce the amount of runoff moving rapidly across hard surfaces.
During dry periods, we want to make the most of the rainfall we actually receive.
A landscape that allows more rainwater to infiltrate where appropriate can help with both goals.
It's not about controlling nature.
It's about working with it.
Could Your Soggy Spot Become a Rain Garden?
Take a look around your yard the next time it rains.
Where does the water go?
Does a downspout send water toward your driveway?
Does one area of the lawn consistently collect water?
Does runoff move toward the street?
That low spot you've been frustrated with might be telling you something about how water naturally moves across your property.
Instead of immediately asking:
"How do I get rid of this water?"
try asking:
"Could I work with this water?"
A rain garden might be one possibility.
However, not every wet area is appropriate for a rain garden. Before creating one, consider soil conditions, drainage, underground utilities, property structures, slopes, and how quickly water currently drains.
The goal isn't to create a permanently soggy area.
The goal is to create a landscape feature that can temporarily hold and infiltrate stormwater appropriately.
Norfolk's Yards Are Part of a Bigger Watershed
Here in Norfolk, what happens in our yards doesn't happen in isolation.
Our neighborhoods are connected through a larger system of storm drains, waterways, rivers, wetlands, and the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
We can't control how much rain falls.
We can't eliminate drought.
And we certainly can't solve regional water-quality challenges with a single garden.
But we can make small changes where we live.
A rain barrel can capture some rainfall.
A rain garden can slow and infiltrate runoff.
Native plants can replace portions of thirsty lawn and provide habitat.
Trees can intercept rainfall and provide shade.
Together, those individual choices can become part of a more resilient landscape.
Growing Native, One Yard at a Time
At Root & Bloom Norfolk, we believe that creating a more resilient Hampton Roads doesn't have to start with a huge project.
Sometimes it starts with one downspout.
One rain barrel.
One native plant.
One small garden that gives rainwater somewhere to go.
Our yards can be more than something we simply maintain.
They can be part of the watershed.
They can provide habitat.
And they can help us work with the natural water cycle instead of constantly fighting it.
So the next time you look at that soggy spot in your Norfolk yard, remember:
It might not just be a drainage problem.
It might be an opportunity. 🌱
🌿 Ready to Create a More Water-Wise Yard?
Start by observing your property during and after a rainstorm.
Look for:
- Where water naturally collects
- Where downspouts discharge
- Where runoff travels
- Areas that dry out quickly
- Areas that stay wet
- Existing trees and native plants that are already helping manage water
Understanding how water moves through your yard is the first step toward creating a landscape that is better suited to Norfolk's changing conditions.
Growing native, one yard at a time.
Root & Bloom Norfolk | Serving Tidewater